Representatives from the Kent Association of Local Councils, which represents 96% of all town and parish councils in the county, travelled to London to lobby MPs over Kent's roads.

The association is fed up with the problems caused by HGVs travelling along the county's narrow country lanes, forcing other motorists into hedgerows, causing congestion and de-grading the road surface.

The delegation included John Wilson, who is both chairman of East Farleigh Parish Council and the chairman of the KALC transport advisory committee, as well as KALC chief executive Terry Martin, KALC chairman Sarah Barker, and vice president Richard Parry.

They were able to collar Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant and Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately MP during a lobby day at Portcullis House in Westminster. They also set out the case for imposing limited routes for HGVs to use to Sir Roger Gale MP for North Thanet and to Gordon Henderson MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Cllr Wilson told the MPs: "Our objective should be to concentrate goods vehicle mileage on the most suitable roads and to minimise the worst environmental and social effects of lorry movements, while recognising the need for effective and efficient transport links.

"We recognise that this is a national problem and we need to encourage the Department of Transport to recognise the seriousness of the matter, and for them to consider introducing measures to restrict the ability of lorries to drive on unsuitable roads."

Cllr Wilson said: "The impact of HGVs on the quality of life of our communities has now reached the stage of being unacceptable.

"The preference for transport via the road network has caused many environmental and social problems such as pollution, noise, vibration, road safety problems and severance of communities by HGVs.

"Drivers take the most direct and apparently fuel-efficient route to reach their destination, which takes them through small villages and towns on roads that were never designed to be able to cope with such large and heavy vehicles.

"This has also led to more wear and tear on the roads surface, and a corresponding increase in maintenance costs to ensure they remain in a safe and usable state."

KALC suggested that Kent might follow the example of Leicestershire County Council where a ‘Lorry Control Plan’, with weight restrictions and extensive signage had been introduced over 90% of the county to great effect.